The Texas A&M women captured their first-ever Big XII title while the Texas men's squad claimed its 11th consecutive conference crown.  Reports of the Texas women's demise are premature however.  The Longhorn ladies chipped away at A&M's early lead each day before falling just one point behind the Aggies.

The Longhorn men's conference title streak dates back to 1980, head coach Eddie Reese's second year, when Texas was a member of the Southwest Conference. Texas men compiled 1,114 points over the four-day event, followed by Texas A&M (828) and Missouri (735), respectively.

On the women's side, Texas A&M (931) finished one point ahead of Texas (930), while Kansas (448.5), Missouri (419), Nebraska (350.5) and Iowa State (325) filled the remaining spots.

The Big 12 Conference honored the top performers of the championships based on a vote of the league's head coaches at the conclusion of the meet. The men's honorees include Swimmer of the Meet: Michael Klueh, Texas; Newcomer of the Meet: Rick Berens, Texas; Diver of the Meet: Eric Sehn, Texas A&M (2005-07); Swim Coach of the Meet: Eddie Reese (1997, 1999-2002, 04, 06-07); Dive Coach of the Meet: Kevin Wright, Texas A&M (1997-99, 2005-07).

In the women's field the following received recognition, Swimmer of the Meet: Christine Marshall, Texas A&M; Newcomer of the Meet: Alia Atkinson, Texas A&M; Divers of the Meet - Mary Yarrison, Texas; Swim Coach of the Meet: Steve Bultman, Texas A&M (2002, 04-07); Dive Coach of the Meet: Matt Scoggin, Texas (1997-2000, 2003, 06, 07).

Sehn completed a sweep of the 2007 diving events when he claimed the platform Saturday with a score of 408.65. He also won the one and three-meter springboard. The Edmonton, Alberta, Canada native is undefeated at the Big 12 Championships at 9-0 in three seasons, holding the record for the Big 12.

UT sophomore Michael Klueh (Evansville, Ind.) obliterated his Big 12 meet record in the 1,650-yard freestyle set a year ago, clocking a career-best time of 14:42.69, just falling shy of Matt Hooper’s 13-year-old school mark of 14:42.02. Incredibly, the mark fell 23 seconds below the NCAA "A" cut standard, and the time stands as the fastest in the nation this season.

"Michael Klueh…he’s amazing," said UT coach Eddie Reese. "He told me what (time) he was going to go out in….he told me the time for his first 550 (yards), his second 550 (yards), and what his overall time was going to be, and he was a half-second off the whole way. And, he’s better than that."

Bultman has earned at least a share of Big 12 Coach of the Meet honors five of the last six seasons.

“It’s taken us eight long years to get to this point, but boy does it sure feel good,” Bultman said. “I can’t say enough about the toughness and resiliency of this team. Winning this meet was one of their main goals from day one this year and they went out and made it happen.”

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS

Men
1. Texas: 1,114
2. Texas A&M: 828
3. Missouri: 735

Women
1. Texas A&M: 931
2. Texas: 930
3. Kansas: 448.50
4. Missouri: 419
5. Nebraska: 350.50
6. Iowa State: 325


CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS HONORS

Men
Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet: Michael Klueh, So., Texas
Outstanding Diver of the Meet: Eric Sehn, Jr., Texas A&M
Outstanding Newcomer of the Meet: Rick Berens, Fr., Texas
Swim Coach of the Meet: Eddie Reese, Texas
Dive Coach of the Meet: Kevin Wright, Texas A&M

Women
Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet: Christine Marshall, So., Texas A&M
Outstanding Co-Diver of the Meet: Mary Yarrison, Jr., Texas
Outstanding Newcomer of the Meet: Alia Atkinson, Fr., Texas A&M
Swim Coach of the Meet: Steve Bultman, Texas A&M
Dive Coach of the Meet: Matt Scoggin, Texas